Andy Murray Quells Surface Tension and Eyes French Prize of Novak Djokovic

Like gunfighters, they are unable to avoid each other for long. From one town to the next, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray have been in each other's sights for nearly 17 years, from a junior tournament in the Pyrenees town of Tarbes - where the Scot won for the loss of a single game - to the semi-final of the 2015 French Open in Paris, where the Serb will walk on to Court Philippe Chatrier on Friday as the undisputed No1 player in the world, favourite to win their 27th shootout.(Djokovic vs Murray Puts Wawrinka vs Tsonga in Shade)

It has been some journey, and, as each of them is 28, it is a long way from over. Djokovic, a week younger, was the first into the top 100, then the top 10 and, after 12 years on Tour, he leads his "professional friend" eight slam titles to two - although those Murray majors came against Djokovic in finals in New York and Wimbledon. (Nadal Will Bounce Back Says Djokovic and Murray)

Brad Gilbert, one of Murray's coaches in the early part of his career, maintains Djokovic is the player above all others the Scot wants to beat. He might enjoy his matches against Roger Federer more, and he is probably most friendly with Rafael Nadal, but it is the Serb who gets his adrenaline running at fever pitch.(Djokovic vs Murray in Battle of Untouchables)

It will need to be racing here, because Djokovic, for the second time in his career, is on an irresistible run. Although he won 43 matches in a row and three slams in 2011 - Federer stopping him in the semi-finals here - and has lost twice in 42 matches in 2015 while taking the first major of the season , he is a more complete player now, dangerous in all parts of the court, as hungry to attack the net as to roam wide and fast along the baseline. He lobbed Nadal to distraction inthree quite brilliant sets on Wednesday.

Djokovic is playing awesome tennis. Murray is playing very well indeed but he knows his opponent's game and character inside out. "I couldn't have put myself in a better position to be well prepared and give myself a chance of winning."

Murray is unbeaten on clay in 15 matches and refreshed since leaving Rome after one win to get ready for Roland Garros. Dwelling on the longest-running mini-soap in tennis, Murray conceded: "It is strange. Agassi and Sampras were kind of similar-similar ages, also growing up in the States. And they both spent a bit of time together at Bollettieri's camp and trained a bit with each other.

"Novak wasn't like that with me, but we've played each other a bunch, played in many big matches. We've played in all the other slams except this one. So it's going to be a great challenge. I'm aware that it's going to be extremely tough."

There is another element to the match: Djokovic has already had his "final". Although he beat Nadal with embarrassing ease, that was a quarter-final that had the air of a world heavyweight title fight about it.

Nadal had not lost to Djokovic here in their previous six matches. Only Robin Soderling, among 70 previous opponents, had dented his record. Nadal had even bagelled Federer in a final, perhaps the most emphatic of all his nine title wins at Roland Garros.

So Djokovic went into that match knowing it was one in which he would once and for all have to bury the greatest clay-courter of them all, or fall short for a seventh time and possibly never get a better chance. He rose to unprecedented heights, crushing the Spaniard into the red dirt that Nadal had made him eat for years on end. The emotional high was extraordinary, even though the encounter lasted less than two and a half hours. "Obviously an ideal scenario is today could have been finals and this could have been a different discussion," Djokovic said later.

Murray has his believers. John McEnroe is one - with qualifications. He thinks that Murray finally feels comfortable on the surface. "This is the first time Murray actually believes he can win this," the former world No1 said. "I still wouldn't pick him to win it, but I think he believes he can win it, and that is important. Maybe he will tell you he thought he could win it before. That is just my opinion."

It is one with which Murray would not cavil. After years of struggle and self-doubt here, his confidence is evident in his every gesture and utterance. He has found calmness at last, comfortable in the relaxed environment Amélie Mauresmo has brought to his camp. And he has something else: nothing to lose. Djokovic, as in every tournament and every match he plays, is a firm favourite.

However, were Murray to beat Djokovic two days after the Serb beat the best clay-courter of all time in the tournament he has won nine times, Murray could fairly lay claim - for one day at least - to being the best tennis player in the world. And that is something even he would not have contemplated at the start of the summer.

Having beaten David Ferrer for the first time on clay to reach his third French semi-final and his 16th in a major, he lies just one behind Bjorn Borg on that distinguished list of modern greats. He will not want for self-esteem.

In the over-30s semifinal, Stan Wawrinka and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will reach for their second grand slam final, and first here. Tsonga would be the first Frenchman since Henri Leconte in 1988 to contest his home title.

There is little between them, 3-3 overall on the Tour, and five places apart in the seedings. The ninth seed Wawrinka played his best match of the year to blast Federer out of the tournament in straight sets on Tuesday, while Tsonga struggled through five sets against Kei Nishikori. Of the four players left, he has spent most time on court, 12 hours and 24 minutes, through 18 often-close sets.

Alongside Timea Bacsinszky in the women's draw, Wawrinka is one of two Swiss players to reach the semifinals here - a first for the tournament.